Your Interview Heidi de Lucchi

Introduce yourself (name, company, position, country) and tell us how you got into lighting design (including education/qualifications).

I am Heidi De Lucchi working for Lux Box Lighting Technology as the Business and Operations Manager based in the United Kingdom. Like many others I fell into lighting. I had finished my BA in Criminology in South Africa and did not want to join the police so took a part time job at a lighting components company starting in an admin position. Soon realising that I enjoyed sales and technical design I was offered a fulltime position as the Business Development and Product Manager, this allowed me to travel the country seeing clients as well as visiting our suppliers all over the world. Following a few years doing this I was promoted to Business Manager running the company. During this period I really found my passion for electronics and studied a DIP Engineering before moving to the UK where I have continued in components.

Tell us about your work – is there a specific type of project you like to work on or an area you specialise in and why?

Lux Box specialises and manufactures emergency lighting components. I have always worked in components so that has become my speciality which I enjoy. One of the most enjoyable parts of working in components is finding ways to improve products with the latest technology that gives our clients an additional advantage within their luminaires.

What project are you most proud of and why?

Working with our clients and a system manufacture to find a solution to make our portfolio compatible with their system.

What is the biggest challenge that you have overcome in your career?

Components are a very male dominated part of the lighting sector, especially when I started in the industry. I found the biggest challenge to overcome was having my technical advice taken seriously as I was usually the only woman in the room and was also quite young. By not allowing this to knock me back I gained the respect of those who I worked with and clients and overcame this challenge.

How does light inspire you?

No matter who you are or where you go lighting is a part of everyday life. What we do is essential to all industries being able to run, simply put without light you cannot see. This inspires me to ensure that the lights never go out.

What is your message for other Women In Lighting?

The lighting industry is a weird, wonderful and chaotic industry to be apart of, once you are in it you don’t leave as it becomes part of your family.